Plant Pathology Infobytes

October 14, 1996
Common Sense Pesticide Safe Storage Tips

Most home gardeners will have leftover supplies of pesticides which generally can be carried over for use next season, provided they are stored properly. Not only will correct storage help prolong pesticide shelf life, but doing it the right way helps protect people and animals from injury and decreases chances of environmental contamination.

The following common-sense pesticide safe storage tips should be followed as these products are put away for use another season:

* Pesticides are best stored in a locked, well-ventilated space. As an additional precaution, store away from pilot lights or other open flames, since the fumes could catch fire.

* Always keep pesticides in their original containers. Never remove the labels. Never store garden chemicals in soft drink bottles, or any other container that could lead to anyone, especially a child, to mistake the contents for food or drink.

* Make sure that pesticide containers are tightly sealed. Dry formulations such as wettable powders, dry flowables, granules, and dusts tend to cake when wet or kept in humid areas. Opened original containers can be placed in sealable plastic bags. This will reduce the absorption of moisture and will help prevent a spill if the original container tears.

* Shelves used for pesticide storage should be strong, stable, and not too high to reach easily, but out of the reach of children.

* Keep all chemical containers back from the front edge of the storage shelf. Some liquid pesticides come in glass containers. Be especially careful and take extra care when handling and storing breakable containers.

* Pesticides should not be stored with or near feed, seed, clothing, or similar articles. When possible, formulations of wettable powder, dry flowable, or granular fungicides and insecti- cides should be stored separately from herbicides to avoid possible contamination which could lead to later crop injury.

* Ideally, the storage room temperature should not fall below freezing. Products subject to "inversion" and similar breakdown as a result of freezing temperatures probably will not perform in a satisfactory manner the following gardening season if this occurs. In fact, crop injury may result from application of such pesti- cides.

Remember - pesticides are potentially dangerous materials, so be careful! You can never be too cautious when it comes to protecting yourself, your family, and the environment.


Written by the late Dr. Frank Killebrew

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